The Bulldogs almost certainly need to make 3-pointers to return there.

No. 10 seed Butler (21-13) plays a rematch against No. 2 seed Purdue at 12:10 p.m. Sunday in the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs are going for back-to-back Sweet 16s and a fourth such appearance in nine years.

In the Dec. 16 meeting against Purdue, Butler had one 3-pointer through 28 minutes in falling behind by 26 points. The Bulldogs finished with seven 3s in that 82-67 defeat, but the outcome was decided long before that.

Purdue coach Matt Painter said the Bulldogs, notably Kamar Baldwin, missed shots they ordinarily make. Baldwin made some against Seton Hall, “and they’re just draped all over him,” the coach said.

Butler Bulldogs guard Kamar Baldwin (3) shoots in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Little Caesars Arena.(Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

“Sometimes it’s just your day. I think that day was ours,” Painter said.

Senior forward Kelan Martin said the Bulldogs were “rushing” shots against Purdue. They reviewed film Saturday in an attempt to devise adjustments.

“I think we kind of disrupted the flow of their offense,” Purdue guard Dakota Mathias said. “We made things pretty tough for them. Whenever you get out of rhythm like that, it’s tough to kind of rebound. They’re a great 3-point shooting team, so just making them feel uncomfortable is going to be the biggest thing for us.”

The Bulldogs have not always shot accurately from the arc. When they do, results have been great.

They are 8-3 when making 10 or more 3s, and two losses were to No. 1 seeds, Villanova and Xavier (in overtime). The other was at St. John’s in a game they led by five points with 12 seconds left.

In perhaps the Bulldogs’ best all-around performance, they shot 8-of-14 (57 percent) from the arc in a 92-72 victory at Marquette.

“When we hit ’em,” Jorgensen said, “we’re rolling.”

Butler Bulldogs forward Kelan Martin (30) shoots in the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Little Caesars Arena.(Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

The Bulldogs have made 281 3s, or 8.3 per game. That is their highest rate since the 2007 and 2008 teams had 321 and 319, respectively, or 8.9 and 9.4 per game. Neither of Butler’s NCAA runners-up made that many (260 in 2010 and 289 in 2011).

Three-point shooting in the tournament by Archey (2003), Campbell (2007), Mack (2010, 2011) and Woodson (2017) all sparked runs to the Sweet 16.

The record-breaking 2007 team had three players who made 50 or more 3s, and the 2018 version nearly has four: Martin 92, Jorgensen 59, Baldwin 48 and Sean McDermott 46. Henry Baddley has 20 and leads Butler in 3-point shooting (47 percent).

Martin and McDermott, especially, have been steady from the arc. Martin, once streaky, has shot 53-of-122 (43 percent) over 14 games. McDermott, sidelined by an ankle injury earlier, has shot 23-of-50 (46 percent) over 12 games. They were a collective 8-of-16 against Arkansas.

“After the ankle injury, I kind of struggled with my shot,” McDermott said. “Seeing a couple go down and getting my confidence back helped me, I think.”

CLOSE

The Bulldgos are moving on in the NCAA Tournament.
David Woods/IndyStar

McDermott credited guards Baldwin and Aaron Thompson with driving into the foul lane and leaving perimeter players open. Martin said the Bulldogs’ defense influences how open they are from the arc, explaining that the floor is spread and 3s available in transition when they get stops.

Butler must continue to play inside/out, coach LaVall Jordan said, passing or dribbling to the basket before locating shooters on the 3-point line.

“So we can’t get 3-ball dependent. That’s not who we are,” Jordan said. “But when we’ve got a good balance, we’re pretty good.”